Vizio Breaks into PC Space with Notebooks, Desktops

The company we know best for its flat-screen TVs, Vizio, is moving into a whole new space, personal computers, with the launch of the Vizio family of notebooks and desktops, available through Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) online store.

With design cues reminiscent of Apple’s sleek MacBook notebooks and all-in-one (AIO) desktop computers, the Vizio line includes three notebooks and two AIO desktops, with notebooks starting at $949 and the 24-inch AIO desktop model priced at $1,049.

Vizio offers two 15-inch notebooks and a 14-inch model. The CT15-A2 is the company’s flagship 15-inch notebook, sporting a full HD display, a unibody design constructed of anodized aluminum, a razor-thin (0.68-inch) frame and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). The notebook starts at $1,249 and runs on an Intel Core i7-processor with Turbo Boost Technology, two USB 3.0 ports and a 1.3 megapixel HD webcam.

The 15-inch CN15-A2 notebook, priced at $1,199, boasts a third-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive and a 32GB SSD, as well as SRS Premium Sound HD and Nvidia GeForce GT graphics.

The most compact member of the notebook family is the 14-inch CT14-A1, priced at $949, weighing in at just 3.4 pounds and boasting an ultra-thin profile of 0.67 inches. The notebook comes with a 128 GB SSD, Intel Core i5 silicon and up to seven hours of battery life.

On the AIO desktop side, the 24-inch CA24-A1 boasts HDMI connectivity to a cable box, Blu-ray player or gaming console, and includes a full HD display, streamlined design to fit into tight environments and Intel chips with Turbo Boost Technology. The 27-inch CA27-A2 AIO, starting at $1,349, comes with Intel and Nvidia chips and four USB 3.0 ports.

When purchased through the Microsoft store, customers also get the company’s Signature service, which means it comes with no trialware and sample software that typically bogs down new PCs, as well as full Microsoft support for 90 days.